SPECIAL HONORS
MDA Hall of Fame (Inaugurated 1997)
To recognize and honor those MDA members who have made significant and lasting contributions to dressage in the United States.
Section 1- Nominations
Nominations shall be made by the general membership. Nominations will not be limited to riders, trainers, and instructors as there are many instances of substantial contributions to dressage by persons who have never competed in the show ring. This award shall not be restricted to those who have retired or passed away. Whenever the facts warrant, an effort should be made to honor those who are still alive and active. Consent of the nominee must be obtained.
Section 2 - Voting
The decision will be made by a simple majority vote of the Board of Directors after reviewing biographical information and supporting data.
Section 3 - Awards
To recognize and honor those MDA members who have made significant and lasting contributions to dressage in the United States.
Section 1- Nominations
Nominations shall be made by the general membership. Nominations will not be limited to riders, trainers, and instructors as there are many instances of substantial contributions to dressage by persons who have never competed in the show ring. This award shall not be restricted to those who have retired or passed away. Whenever the facts warrant, an effort should be made to honor those who are still alive and active. Consent of the nominee must be obtained.
Section 2 - Voting
The decision will be made by a simple majority vote of the Board of Directors after reviewing biographical information and supporting data.
Section 3 - Awards
- This honor may be awarded annually, if the Board of Directors determines that a worthy nominee is available.
- This honor shall be awarded at the Awards Banquet. A maximum of three awards shall be given in any one year.
- This honor shall not be awarded to the same person more than once.
MDA Hall of Fame Inductees
MDA Hall of Fame 1997 Inductee
Ms. Violet M. Hopkins
Violet Hopkins generously established a trust fund for the endowment of the USDF/Hopkins National Seminar for Instructors that eventually evolved into the USDF Dressage Symposiums. Then, as now, these annual events consisted of daily mounted sessions, lectures and discussions conducted by internationally known trainers, judges, and competitors. The first USDF/Hopkins National Seminar for Instructors was held at Ms. Hopkins’ Tristan Oaks Farm in Union Lake, Michigan, featuring Colonel Aage Sommer of Denmark, former cavalry officer and highly-respected international dressage judge.
A lifelong dressage enthusiast, judge, and instructor, Violet Hopkins has served the dressage community in many capacities including director of the MDA board, and as a Professional Advisor.
In 1995, the $50,000 Violet Hopkins dressage fund was established in her honor by the Dressage Foundation. The program was developed to enable the USDF Group Member Organizations that need financial assistance, to offer clinics or educational seminars.
The Midwest Dressage Association is honored to recognize Ms. Violet Hopkins as the first MDA Hall of Fame inductee for her important contributions to the sport of dressage.
MDA Hall of Fame 2003 Inductee
Major Robert Borg
Major Borg's contribution to dressage includes riding in the 1948, 1952, 1956 Olympic Games and 1955 Pan American Games. He was one of America's foremost dressage riders and Olympian.
For many years at the renowned Red Bob Farm in Oxford, Michigan, he gave numerous clinics, donating the proceeds to the Midwest Dressage Association for future education. He has supported the dressage community through these clinics and trained many individual riders for competition. Before his tragic accident in 1959, he judged many dressage competitions all over the United Sated. In 1999, Major Borg was recognized nationally by the American Horse Show Association with the Pegasus Medal of Honor, for his outstanding contribution to the horse industry.
The Midwest Dressage Association is honored to induct Major Robert J. Borg into the MDA Hall of Fame, in recognition of his important contributions to the sport of dressage.
MDA Hall of Fame 2007 Inductee-
Dr. Hilary Clayton
The third inductee to the MDA Hall of Fame, Dr. Hilary Clayton, has not only made significant and lasting contributions to dressage in the United States but around the world. Dr. Clayton graduated from Glasgow University Veterinary College in 1973 and spent two years working in a mixed veterinary practice in Scotland before returning to Glasgow University to complete a PhD. She has worked at veterinary colleges in Great Britain, the Netherlands, Canada and the United States. In 1997, Dr. Clayton became the first incumbent of the May Anne McPhail Dressage Chair in the Equine Sport Medicine at Michigan State University.
Dr. Clayton's research interests are in the area of equine sport science, especially biomechanics and conditioning of sport horses, and the interaction between rider and horse. Her research uses sophisticated equipment and computer programs to analyze the horse's gaits and movement patterns. She has published six books, scientific manuscripts and magazine articles. She also travels throughout the year, presenting her research at local, national and international meetings and conferences.
Dr. Clayton has earned her USDF bronze, silver, and gold medals. Anyone who has had the opportunity to observe Dr. Clayton interacting with her horses will immediately recognize that she is not only a scientist and equine competitor, but more importantly, a true horseperson.
MDA Hall of Fame 2010 Inductee-
Chuck Grant
Chuck Grant (1914-1990) began training horses in 1934, when he was stationed with the 122nd Field Artillery of the Army of the United States, Chicago Illinois. At the time there was no civilian dressage in America. Dressage was only for exhibition purposes. Grant judged the first civilian dressage show held in the United Stated in 1948, in Morton Grove, Illinois.
In 1950, he left Chicago and moved to the Detroit area. His vocation at that time was training hunters and jumpers, while his avocation was dressage. During his career, Chuck trained 17 horses to Grand Prix in dressage, never accomplished by any other American. All of these horses competed in recognized shows and ten were shown in the national trials.
Chuck Grant was a member of the American Horse Show Association and a founding member of the United States Dressage Federation and Midwest Dressage Federation. He authored four books and numerous magazine articles.
Throughout his life, Chuck Grant stressed the importance of teaching Americans to train American horses, in hope of one day Fielding an American Dressage team with American horses. However, this to date, has not happened since prior to World War ll. Therefore, we stress the philosophy of the late Chuck Grant presented in his teachings and pass the approach to those who are willing to learn to train horses.
Chuck Grant continued his work up until the time of his death in 1990. He left a rich legacy in the many fine horses he trained, and those who were privileged enough to know him and work with him received an irreplaceable gift from him with the knowledge he shared.
"Ask often, expect little or nothing and reward generously." Chuck Grant
MDA Hall of Fame 2010 Inductee-
Maryal Barrett
The dressage community in Michigan is fortunate to have Maryal Barnett. Over the years she has set an example for others to follow in her dedication to excellence, her accessible and understandable training methods, her personal dedication to self-improvement and most importantly, her "joy in seeing her students gain the ability to grasp a skill or concept through the lessons that she developed." This last comment was made about her by Lilo Fore, a FEI five-star judge, an observation made while she was serving as an official USDF instructor certification examiner and faculty member.
Her resume is extraordinary. She has been involved in the USDF/Violet Hopkins National Seminars since 1979, first participating as a rider, and as a participating instructor. You may remember that Vi Hopkins was a founding member of the Midwest Dressage Association and Maryal continues to carry that standard forward with her involvement in those seminars as they have grown and evolved along with her responsibilities and expertise.
Her impact on the national dressage community is substantial. She is an official USDF Instructor Certification Examiner. She was the Chair of the USDF University Committee. She was elected to the Executive Board of the Dressage Foundation. Best of all, she is an actual rider who has shown her own horses from Training through Grand Prix. She is a sought after clinician throughout North America and beyond. She is a national FEI "C" dressage judge, a USEF "S" dressage judge and a Canadian Equestrian Federation Senior Dressage judge. She has participated for many years in international judges’ forums in Holland, Germany, Quebec, and the United States. She is also an Instructor, Examiner and Senior Official for the "r" and "R" Dressage Judges Training Program.
In her "spare time" she spends time at her home base, Nottingham Equestrian Center in East Lansing Michigan. It is with a deep appreciation for her life's work that the Midwest Dressage Association inducts Maryal Barnett into the MDA Hall of Fame.
MDA Hall of Fame 2016 Inductee-
James Rowe
Mr. Rowe trained horses in Dressage up to the Haute Ecole or "Airs above the Ground", as well as many champion competition horses and students for well over 60 years.
Mr. Rowe started training horses as a young boy in Omaha, Nebraska. His family made a living breaking and training wild horses. Mr. Rowe then left horses and joined the Navy and then the Army, allowing him to travel to Europe and see other methods of training. In the 1940's, Jim worked in Europe, while serving in WW ll. Returning to the United States his desire to work with horses continued and he taught at a stable in the Detroit area for a short time while working as an insurance investigator. Jim was transferred to Lansing in the middle 1940's, where he purchased his first piece of property and established the now well-known "Rowe Ranch".
During this time in Mr. Rowe's life he met his soon to be wife, Sharon. In 1970, Jim and Sharon built a new facility in Okemos, Michigan where they taught dressage riders of all levels.
Mr. Rowe passed away in August of 2005.
MDA Hall of Fame 2017 Inductee-
Carole Grant
A lifelong horsewoman, Carole Grant represented the U.S. at the 1982 World Equestrian Games and won two gold medals at the 1983 Pan-Am Games in Venezuela. Because of United States Olympic Committee financial grants, Carole trained in Germany for the Olympics. During her competition career she trained and campaigned several horses that qualified and won USDF Horse of the Year awards as well as qualifying, competing and placing at many Olympic Festivals and Can-Am Challenges.
Carole is also the recipient of the Whitney Stone Memorial Trophy, which is presented by the United States Equestrian Team for a distinguished international career and for being an ambassador for the sport of Dressage.
Carole has been a member of the United States Equestrian Team Selection Committee. She has coached riders worldwide including North American, Europe and Asia. She has competed many times at the prestigious Dressage at Devon with many wins. One year her students won every FEI class at Devon.
Carole has demonstrated her skill at selecting and training horses for the international Grand Prix ring, as well as with those horses whose character make them suitable for the amateur. Some of the international caliber horses she has trained include Lectron owned by Mary Anne McPhail who went on to the 1984 Olympic Games with Robert Dover. She also trained Valsertock owned by Mary Anne McPhail. He went on to do the World Championship games with Robert Dover.
Wonderful Walden, won the Gold Medal at the Pan-Am games with her student Betsy Rebar Sell and Martalon, with her Young Rider, Holly Thomas Studley, competed successfully in many Grand Prix events. Carole was hired to not only coach one of the youngest Grand Prix riders from Columbia, but also took her to the Seoul Korea Olympic games. Her name is Maria Paula Bernal and she was the youngest rider to ever compete in the Olympic Games.
Carole currently teaches clinics throughout the country, in addition to making frequent trips to Europe to select horses for clients.
MDA Hall of Fame 1997 Inductee
Ms. Violet M. Hopkins
Violet Hopkins generously established a trust fund for the endowment of the USDF/Hopkins National Seminar for Instructors that eventually evolved into the USDF Dressage Symposiums. Then, as now, these annual events consisted of daily mounted sessions, lectures and discussions conducted by internationally known trainers, judges, and competitors. The first USDF/Hopkins National Seminar for Instructors was held at Ms. Hopkins’ Tristan Oaks Farm in Union Lake, Michigan, featuring Colonel Aage Sommer of Denmark, former cavalry officer and highly-respected international dressage judge.
A lifelong dressage enthusiast, judge, and instructor, Violet Hopkins has served the dressage community in many capacities including director of the MDA board, and as a Professional Advisor.
In 1995, the $50,000 Violet Hopkins dressage fund was established in her honor by the Dressage Foundation. The program was developed to enable the USDF Group Member Organizations that need financial assistance, to offer clinics or educational seminars.
The Midwest Dressage Association is honored to recognize Ms. Violet Hopkins as the first MDA Hall of Fame inductee for her important contributions to the sport of dressage.
MDA Hall of Fame 2003 Inductee
Major Robert Borg
Major Borg's contribution to dressage includes riding in the 1948, 1952, 1956 Olympic Games and 1955 Pan American Games. He was one of America's foremost dressage riders and Olympian.
For many years at the renowned Red Bob Farm in Oxford, Michigan, he gave numerous clinics, donating the proceeds to the Midwest Dressage Association for future education. He has supported the dressage community through these clinics and trained many individual riders for competition. Before his tragic accident in 1959, he judged many dressage competitions all over the United Sated. In 1999, Major Borg was recognized nationally by the American Horse Show Association with the Pegasus Medal of Honor, for his outstanding contribution to the horse industry.
The Midwest Dressage Association is honored to induct Major Robert J. Borg into the MDA Hall of Fame, in recognition of his important contributions to the sport of dressage.
MDA Hall of Fame 2007 Inductee-
Dr. Hilary Clayton
The third inductee to the MDA Hall of Fame, Dr. Hilary Clayton, has not only made significant and lasting contributions to dressage in the United States but around the world. Dr. Clayton graduated from Glasgow University Veterinary College in 1973 and spent two years working in a mixed veterinary practice in Scotland before returning to Glasgow University to complete a PhD. She has worked at veterinary colleges in Great Britain, the Netherlands, Canada and the United States. In 1997, Dr. Clayton became the first incumbent of the May Anne McPhail Dressage Chair in the Equine Sport Medicine at Michigan State University.
Dr. Clayton's research interests are in the area of equine sport science, especially biomechanics and conditioning of sport horses, and the interaction between rider and horse. Her research uses sophisticated equipment and computer programs to analyze the horse's gaits and movement patterns. She has published six books, scientific manuscripts and magazine articles. She also travels throughout the year, presenting her research at local, national and international meetings and conferences.
Dr. Clayton has earned her USDF bronze, silver, and gold medals. Anyone who has had the opportunity to observe Dr. Clayton interacting with her horses will immediately recognize that she is not only a scientist and equine competitor, but more importantly, a true horseperson.
MDA Hall of Fame 2010 Inductee-
Chuck Grant
Chuck Grant (1914-1990) began training horses in 1934, when he was stationed with the 122nd Field Artillery of the Army of the United States, Chicago Illinois. At the time there was no civilian dressage in America. Dressage was only for exhibition purposes. Grant judged the first civilian dressage show held in the United Stated in 1948, in Morton Grove, Illinois.
In 1950, he left Chicago and moved to the Detroit area. His vocation at that time was training hunters and jumpers, while his avocation was dressage. During his career, Chuck trained 17 horses to Grand Prix in dressage, never accomplished by any other American. All of these horses competed in recognized shows and ten were shown in the national trials.
Chuck Grant was a member of the American Horse Show Association and a founding member of the United States Dressage Federation and Midwest Dressage Federation. He authored four books and numerous magazine articles.
Throughout his life, Chuck Grant stressed the importance of teaching Americans to train American horses, in hope of one day Fielding an American Dressage team with American horses. However, this to date, has not happened since prior to World War ll. Therefore, we stress the philosophy of the late Chuck Grant presented in his teachings and pass the approach to those who are willing to learn to train horses.
Chuck Grant continued his work up until the time of his death in 1990. He left a rich legacy in the many fine horses he trained, and those who were privileged enough to know him and work with him received an irreplaceable gift from him with the knowledge he shared.
"Ask often, expect little or nothing and reward generously." Chuck Grant
MDA Hall of Fame 2010 Inductee-
Maryal Barrett
The dressage community in Michigan is fortunate to have Maryal Barnett. Over the years she has set an example for others to follow in her dedication to excellence, her accessible and understandable training methods, her personal dedication to self-improvement and most importantly, her "joy in seeing her students gain the ability to grasp a skill or concept through the lessons that she developed." This last comment was made about her by Lilo Fore, a FEI five-star judge, an observation made while she was serving as an official USDF instructor certification examiner and faculty member.
Her resume is extraordinary. She has been involved in the USDF/Violet Hopkins National Seminars since 1979, first participating as a rider, and as a participating instructor. You may remember that Vi Hopkins was a founding member of the Midwest Dressage Association and Maryal continues to carry that standard forward with her involvement in those seminars as they have grown and evolved along with her responsibilities and expertise.
Her impact on the national dressage community is substantial. She is an official USDF Instructor Certification Examiner. She was the Chair of the USDF University Committee. She was elected to the Executive Board of the Dressage Foundation. Best of all, she is an actual rider who has shown her own horses from Training through Grand Prix. She is a sought after clinician throughout North America and beyond. She is a national FEI "C" dressage judge, a USEF "S" dressage judge and a Canadian Equestrian Federation Senior Dressage judge. She has participated for many years in international judges’ forums in Holland, Germany, Quebec, and the United States. She is also an Instructor, Examiner and Senior Official for the "r" and "R" Dressage Judges Training Program.
In her "spare time" she spends time at her home base, Nottingham Equestrian Center in East Lansing Michigan. It is with a deep appreciation for her life's work that the Midwest Dressage Association inducts Maryal Barnett into the MDA Hall of Fame.
MDA Hall of Fame 2016 Inductee-
James Rowe
Mr. Rowe trained horses in Dressage up to the Haute Ecole or "Airs above the Ground", as well as many champion competition horses and students for well over 60 years.
Mr. Rowe started training horses as a young boy in Omaha, Nebraska. His family made a living breaking and training wild horses. Mr. Rowe then left horses and joined the Navy and then the Army, allowing him to travel to Europe and see other methods of training. In the 1940's, Jim worked in Europe, while serving in WW ll. Returning to the United States his desire to work with horses continued and he taught at a stable in the Detroit area for a short time while working as an insurance investigator. Jim was transferred to Lansing in the middle 1940's, where he purchased his first piece of property and established the now well-known "Rowe Ranch".
During this time in Mr. Rowe's life he met his soon to be wife, Sharon. In 1970, Jim and Sharon built a new facility in Okemos, Michigan where they taught dressage riders of all levels.
Mr. Rowe passed away in August of 2005.
MDA Hall of Fame 2017 Inductee-
Carole Grant
A lifelong horsewoman, Carole Grant represented the U.S. at the 1982 World Equestrian Games and won two gold medals at the 1983 Pan-Am Games in Venezuela. Because of United States Olympic Committee financial grants, Carole trained in Germany for the Olympics. During her competition career she trained and campaigned several horses that qualified and won USDF Horse of the Year awards as well as qualifying, competing and placing at many Olympic Festivals and Can-Am Challenges.
Carole is also the recipient of the Whitney Stone Memorial Trophy, which is presented by the United States Equestrian Team for a distinguished international career and for being an ambassador for the sport of Dressage.
Carole has been a member of the United States Equestrian Team Selection Committee. She has coached riders worldwide including North American, Europe and Asia. She has competed many times at the prestigious Dressage at Devon with many wins. One year her students won every FEI class at Devon.
Carole has demonstrated her skill at selecting and training horses for the international Grand Prix ring, as well as with those horses whose character make them suitable for the amateur. Some of the international caliber horses she has trained include Lectron owned by Mary Anne McPhail who went on to the 1984 Olympic Games with Robert Dover. She also trained Valsertock owned by Mary Anne McPhail. He went on to do the World Championship games with Robert Dover.
Wonderful Walden, won the Gold Medal at the Pan-Am games with her student Betsy Rebar Sell and Martalon, with her Young Rider, Holly Thomas Studley, competed successfully in many Grand Prix events. Carole was hired to not only coach one of the youngest Grand Prix riders from Columbia, but also took her to the Seoul Korea Olympic games. Her name is Maria Paula Bernal and she was the youngest rider to ever compete in the Olympic Games.
Carole currently teaches clinics throughout the country, in addition to making frequent trips to Europe to select horses for clients.
Special Awards
These awards are in remembrance of MDA members and their horses that were known for their knowledge, experience and dedication to the world of dressage. They worked hard to earn the respect of their clients, trainers, friends, owners and barn members. MDA members in good standing who meet the required criteria are eligible for these awards.
Jean Brown Memorial Award
Criteria amended in 2016
Jean Brown served as the editor of the Midwest Dressage Association newsletter from November 1971 through July 1979. To stop here, however would be committing a disservice to this tireless worker on behalf of dressage. "No" was not a word in her vocabulary. Following her untimely death, Jean's family chose to honor her name. A perpetual trophy to be awarded annually to individuals for distinguished service to the Midwest Dressage Community.
This award is intended to recognize the invaluable contributions of our active members who graciously volunteer their time and skills to support the Midwest Dressage Association and its activities. To honor Jean's memory and her distinguished service, this award will be presented annually to the MDA member who has the greatest number of recorded volunteer hours in the current year.
Criteria amended in 2016
Jean Brown served as the editor of the Midwest Dressage Association newsletter from November 1971 through July 1979. To stop here, however would be committing a disservice to this tireless worker on behalf of dressage. "No" was not a word in her vocabulary. Following her untimely death, Jean's family chose to honor her name. A perpetual trophy to be awarded annually to individuals for distinguished service to the Midwest Dressage Community.
This award is intended to recognize the invaluable contributions of our active members who graciously volunteer their time and skills to support the Midwest Dressage Association and its activities. To honor Jean's memory and her distinguished service, this award will be presented annually to the MDA member who has the greatest number of recorded volunteer hours in the current year.
- The volunteer must be a member in good standing with the Midwest Dressage Association to earn credited hours that are applied towards this award.
- Examples of eligible volunteer hours include volunteering to staff MDA booths at Expos, horse shows, and other events, participating in the operations of any MDA committee's function, volunteering to MDA events, and other activities that the Board determines are necessary to the functioning of the organization.
- This award will be presented to the MDA member who has the highest number of documented volunteer hours in the current year.
- For the purposes of this award, the year begins September 1st of the preceding year and ends on October 1st of the current year.
- No member may earn this award more than once during a five-year cycle.
- No MDA officer or Board of Director member is eligible for this award while they are actively on the board.
- In the future there may be a required minimum number of hours to be eligible for consideration.
Vi Hopkins Trophy
This trophy was donated by Chris Snow in 2003 to honor Ms. Violet Hopkins for the significant role she played in the development and growth of the sport of dressage not only here in Michigan but across the country. Vi was a longtime dressage enthusiast, charter member of the MDA, judge and instructor who has served the dressage community in many capacities. Many of today's top dressage professionals were brought along via her unyielding commitment to the classical training of both horse and rider. She generously established a trust fund for the endowment of the USDF/Hopkins Dressage Seminar for instructor's that eventually evolved into the USDF Dressage Symposiums. The annual instructor's symposium that included lectures, mounted sessions and demonstrations was held at Ms. Hopkins' Tristan Oaks Farm in Union Lake, Michigan.
Internationally known instructors including Major Andres Lindgren of Sweden and Sally Swift of the United States made up the prestigious panel of instructors.
The Vi Hopkins Trophy is presented annually to the MDA Adult Amateur Training Level rider who has the highest average percentage from scores ridden in recognized competitions. This award can only be won once by the same horse and rider combination.
This trophy was donated by Chris Snow in 2003 to honor Ms. Violet Hopkins for the significant role she played in the development and growth of the sport of dressage not only here in Michigan but across the country. Vi was a longtime dressage enthusiast, charter member of the MDA, judge and instructor who has served the dressage community in many capacities. Many of today's top dressage professionals were brought along via her unyielding commitment to the classical training of both horse and rider. She generously established a trust fund for the endowment of the USDF/Hopkins Dressage Seminar for instructor's that eventually evolved into the USDF Dressage Symposiums. The annual instructor's symposium that included lectures, mounted sessions and demonstrations was held at Ms. Hopkins' Tristan Oaks Farm in Union Lake, Michigan.
Internationally known instructors including Major Andres Lindgren of Sweden and Sally Swift of the United States made up the prestigious panel of instructors.
The Vi Hopkins Trophy is presented annually to the MDA Adult Amateur Training Level rider who has the highest average percentage from scores ridden in recognized competitions. This award can only be won once by the same horse and rider combination.
Rosemary Herman Memorial Award
This award has been created in memory of Ms. Rosemary Herman who passed away in December 2010. Rosemary was one of the founding members of the Midwest Dressage Association and served as its first Treasurer. She was on many subsequent boards and served as Vice President and as Chairman of the Rules Committee. She became an American Horse Show Association steward in 1966 and later became a Technical Delegate in 1973 which fit into her interest in rules for organization and competitions. She strongly believed in this calling because as she stated, "There was a need because so many people seem uninformed about the rules." We will always have memories of her sitting at the Win-A-Gin Farms "In Gate" snack bar during the MDA Schooling Shows with a smile on her face enjoying every minute of the competition.
This award will be presented annually to a Midwest Dressage Association member and will be determined by the following criteria:
This award has been created in memory of Ms. Rosemary Herman who passed away in December 2010. Rosemary was one of the founding members of the Midwest Dressage Association and served as its first Treasurer. She was on many subsequent boards and served as Vice President and as Chairman of the Rules Committee. She became an American Horse Show Association steward in 1966 and later became a Technical Delegate in 1973 which fit into her interest in rules for organization and competitions. She strongly believed in this calling because as she stated, "There was a need because so many people seem uninformed about the rules." We will always have memories of her sitting at the Win-A-Gin Farms "In Gate" snack bar during the MDA Schooling Shows with a smile on her face enjoying every minute of the competition.
This award will be presented annually to a Midwest Dressage Association member and will be determined by the following criteria:
- A MDA member during the year for which the award is given
- A rider at least 50 years of age (as of January 1 of the award year)
- Test scores achieved from October 1st through September 31st
- Determined by averaging the three highest scores, from three different judges, from three participating dressage schooling shows on separate dates.
- If a tie occurs, the award will be given to the individual with the highest single score.
- Scores may be earned at any level (final average percentage to be determined by using a "weighting factor" of 1% added to the average score as level increases.
- Award is given only once to the same horse and rider combination at a given level.
Sonet Award
This perpetual frame and cash award is given to the Adult Amateur rider who has the highest average percentage from scores, First through Fourth levels, from MDA participating dressage schooling shows or recognized competitions. The cash award is to be used for continued education.
This trophy was sponsored by a MDA rider in honor of her late dressage mount "Sonet". His owner state, "He was a great friend who allowed me to train and ride through Grand Prix and save my life." Sonet lived to the age of 37.
This perpetual frame and cash award is given to the Adult Amateur rider who has the highest average percentage from scores, First through Fourth levels, from MDA participating dressage schooling shows or recognized competitions. The cash award is to be used for continued education.
This trophy was sponsored by a MDA rider in honor of her late dressage mount "Sonet". His owner state, "He was a great friend who allowed me to train and ride through Grand Prix and save my life." Sonet lived to the age of 37.
Encore Award
Awarded annually to the OTTB with the highest cumulative average percentage at the end of the competition season, October 1 through Sept 30
Awarded annually to the OTTB with the highest cumulative average percentage at the end of the competition season, October 1 through Sept 30
- Riders will need to complete and send in a completed Encore Award Application. They should be mailed/emailed to the Awards Chairperson. Applications can also be sent electronically. Scores will not be tracked until application has been received, reviewed and verified. It is suggested that the application be sent in early in the season.
- Scores from either "Participating Schooling Shows" or "Recognized Shows" may be used.
- Scores tabulated, must be all from the same type of show -Participating"/Recognized.
- Scores from Schooling "Participating "Shows and Recognized Shows cannot be combined.
- Scores from each type of show will be weighted equally.
- All scores regardless of the level must be higher than 58.000% to be used
- All levels from Intro to Grand Prix may apply.
- If enough applicants, sponsor will provide Reserve and Honorable Mention awards.
- The applicant must provide a copy of the horses' Jockey Club papers, lip tattoo or Jockey Club name that can be verified through the registry.
- The rider must be a current MDA member in good standing during the time that the scores were earned.
- A Rider cannot win the award twice on the same horse.
- A rider can win the award again if the scores earned were on a different horse.
- Score requirements that will be tabulated:
- Levels Introductory through 4th must have one (1) score from the highest test of that level, i.e. Test C, Test 3. etc.
- Scores from these levels must be a minimum of 58.000%
- Levels Prix St. George, Intermediate I & II, Intermediate A & B, Grand Prix & Grand Prix Special are one test levels. All tests scored will qualify.
- Three (3) scores from three (3) shows held on three (3) different dates
- The three (3) scores used must also be ridden under three (3) different judges.
- Scores from Equitation, WDAA (western dressage), Freestyles, and Hor Concur rides/classes will not be used.
Midwest Dressage Association Life Members
Section 1 - Purpose
To recognize and honor those individuals who in years past have shown a lifetime of dedication to the dressage community with distinguished service to the Midwest Dressage Association.
Section 2 - Nominations
Nominations shall be made by the general membership. Candidates will not be limited to riders, trainers, and instructors, as there are many instances of substantial contributions to dressage and the MDA by persons who have competed in the show ring. Consent of the nominees must be obtained.
Section 3 - Voting
Voting for the recipients shall be determined by a simple majority vote of the Board of Directors.
Section 4 - Notifications
This recognition may be made annually, if the Board of Directors determines that worthy candidates are available.
The recipient(s) shall be notified by mail or in person.
Section 5 - Benefits
Recipients will be given Life Membership status, which entitles them to be members in good standing for the rest of their natural lives.
Recipients of the Life Member Status
Gabor Foltenyi (deceased)
Lillian Zimmerman (deceased)
Maryal Barnett
Sue Hughes
Rosemary Herman (deceased)
Carolyn Van Cice (deceased)
Tom Bird
Dallas Bradbury
To recognize and honor those individuals who in years past have shown a lifetime of dedication to the dressage community with distinguished service to the Midwest Dressage Association.
Section 2 - Nominations
Nominations shall be made by the general membership. Candidates will not be limited to riders, trainers, and instructors, as there are many instances of substantial contributions to dressage and the MDA by persons who have competed in the show ring. Consent of the nominees must be obtained.
Section 3 - Voting
Voting for the recipients shall be determined by a simple majority vote of the Board of Directors.
Section 4 - Notifications
This recognition may be made annually, if the Board of Directors determines that worthy candidates are available.
The recipient(s) shall be notified by mail or in person.
Section 5 - Benefits
Recipients will be given Life Membership status, which entitles them to be members in good standing for the rest of their natural lives.
- Dues will no longer be expected or accepted from Life Members.
- Life Members are free to attend any and all clinics, seminars, Annual Banquets and Meeting as a guest of the MDA.
- Life Members shall receive monthly copies of the MDA newsletter.
- Life Members shall receive specially designed membership cards.
Recipients of the Life Member Status
Gabor Foltenyi (deceased)
Lillian Zimmerman (deceased)
Maryal Barnett
Sue Hughes
Rosemary Herman (deceased)
Carolyn Van Cice (deceased)
Tom Bird
Dallas Bradbury